A study of vitamin - D status in epileptic children in age group of 2-15 years
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3933.ijam20161083Keywords:
Vitamin d deficiency, Epilepsy, Anticonvulsants, Hypovitaminosis DAbstract
Background: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder of childhood frequently requiring prolonged use of anticonvulsants. This study was done to assess the levels of vitamin D epileptic children. We aimed to describe the prevalence of, and risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency among children with epilepsy.
Methods: This prospective observational study included 86 children with age group of 2 to 15 years with epilepsy subjecting them for assessment of 25 OH vitamin D levels by CLEA method.
Results: Of total of 86 patients, 65 children (75.5%) had vitamin D levels <20 ng/ml (deficiency). 15 (17.4%) children had vitamin D levels between 21-29ng/ml (insufficiency) and 6 (7.1%) children had vitamin D levels >30ng/ml (sufficiency). Males were more commonly deficient in vitamin D, and vitamin D levels were significantly low in indoor patients. The levels of vitamin D decreased as the duration of anticonvulsant usage increased. No significant co relation was found between monotherapy and polytherapy.
Conclusions: We found vitamin D insufficiency to be highly prevalent among our unselected cohort of children with epilepsy. Potential risk factors for low vitamin D were examined, and indoor ambulation and duration of anticonvulsant intake were found to be significant. For children with epilepsy, cerebral palsy and enzyme-inducing AEDs are often cited as risk factors for poor bone health. This high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D suggests that, almost all children with epilepsy are at risk.
References
Offermann G, Pinto V, Kruse R. Antiepileptic drugs and vitamin D supplementation. Epilepsia. 1979;20(1):3-15.
Sheth RD, Gidal BE, Hermann BP. Pathological fractures in epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2006;9(4):601-5.
Souverein PC, Webb DJ, Weil JG, Van Staa TP, Egberts AC. Use of antiepileptic drugs and risk of fractures: case-control study among patients with epilepsy. Neurology. 2006;66(9):1318-24.
Altay EE, Serdaroglu A, Tumer L, Gucuyener K, Hasanoglu A. Evaluation of bone mineral metabolism in children receiving carbamazepine and valproic acid. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2000;13(7):933-9.
Nicolaidou P, Georgouli H, Kotsalis H, Matsinos Y, Papadopoulou A, Fretzayas A, et al. Effects of anticonvulsant therapy on vitamin D status in children: prospective monitoring study. J Child Neurol. 2006;21(3):205-9.
Christiansen C, Rodbro P, Sjo O. Anticonvulsant action of vitamin D in epileptic patients? A controlled pilot study. Br Med J. 1974;2(5913): 258-9.
Shellhaas RA, Barks AK, Joshi SM. Prevalence and risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency among children with epilepsy. Pediatr Neurol. 2010;42(6):422-6.
Zhang R, Naughton DP. Vitamin D in health and disease: current perspectives. Nutr J. 2010;9:65.
Munns C, Zacharin MR, Rodda CP, Batch JA, Morley R, Cranswick NE, et al. Prevention and treatment of infant and childhood vitamin D deficiency in Australia and New Zealand: a consensus statement. Med J Aust. 2006;185(5):268-72.
Volpe SL, Schall JI, Gallagher PR, Stallings VA, Bergqvist AG. Nutrient intake of children with intractable epilepsy compared with healthy children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007;107(6):1014-8.
